I have the 97 SSEi with the AC Delco Radio/Cassette and the Bose amp and speakers. The rear speakers sound terrible, low volume and crackling or low bass. The front speakers sound 'tinny' with no bass.

I replaced the 4 channel Bose amp that lives under the dash and there was no change. I cant see anything physically wrong with the speakers, both rear speakers sound the same.

I was assuming it must be the Radio/Cassette unit with a bad internal amp, so I purchased a reconditioned Radio Cassette unit, and put it in. That improved things but still poor audio. I also put in the new Bose 4 channel Amp I have and it sounds much the same, but there is still low volume and very low/distorted bass in the rear channels. Could both speakers go at once ? Has anyone seen that before ?

Are there any other components that I need to look at ? Like relays and such ? Surely the Radio, Amp and Speakers are the complete system right ?

Also in that car (97 SSEi with factory Bose system), can I put regular 6x9 speakers in the rear shelf ? These are non-amplified speakers. Any recommendations to replace the factory Bose ones ?

Hmm it sounds like you eaither have a wiring problem or the speakers have gone. I would go ahead and get some aftermarket speakers... What the hell Eh? if thats not doing it for you I would check the wiring from HU to Amp then amp to speakers and make sure there isnt a very high OHMage otherwise you might have a bad wire or a brake in the wire... Also the wire might be melted and grounding out.. I had this problem with a 93 GP where the 6x9 speaker wire melted because it was sittting in the sun (90 degrees black car) for about 10 days then it would cool at night the wire stuck itself to the back of the seat and was grounding out. These were aftermarket speakers and my wiring wasnt the greatest but still a good example.
But anyways try looking at your wiring then if it seems okay Id try new speakers. If that dont work you might have to wire it all up from scratch and that can be a pain in the Arse... Good Luck!

good thought, i never did think about a high ohm wire. That would only affect 1 speaker though right ? unless a whole harness was crushed or something.

It affects both rear speakers, what wire could be affecting left and right rear but not left and right front ? Hmm, maybe the rear speakers share a common ground ? Would Bose actually do that ? That would be bad though...

Maybe the Amp has lost its ground or has a high ohm power ? It doesnt take much power to drive the front speakers, but the rears probably have to draw more current and maybe the amp cant supply it if the power isnt right. I will check that too.

So the speakers are probably bad ? Both of them ? So maybe I should buy a couple of new 6x9'*. Will they fit ok under the current speaker cover or will they have new covers ?

Surely the factory Bose cant sound this bad on the showroom floor.

Totally easy to do. Pull up on the leading edge of the speaker grille, it will pop off like a home speaker. Then pull forward to release the 2 clips on the grille. The mesh grille will catch on the carpet, but you got to do it. Pull it forward to release it. The tabs on the mesh might bend a little, but no worrieds just bend it back. There there are 4 hex head screws holding the Bose 6x9'* in, remove those and then pull up on the speaker. It might beheld in a little my the gasketing. Just pullem out, connect the new 6x9'* and screw them in. And replace the grilles, it is that easy. You will be SHOCKED by the sound.

OK, I looked at my speakers again, and compared them to my 92 Bonnie which has the regular stereo with the sub gain control. Heres what I found:

On my Non Bose system, the AC Delco speakers have dual cone speakers, and have 4 wires going to them. The Amp goes to one cone and the gain controller (i guess) goes to the other cone. It was weird. Even when I turn the fader to all front speakers, when I adjust the gain control, there is bass coming from the rear speakers and the gain adjusts it.

Now on my Bose system, there is only 2 wires going to the speakers. The speakers are still ACDelco and still have the dual cone, but where the wires come from the amp, they are then jumpered to the other cone on the speaker. I pulled off the dash and where the gain control is on my other Bonnie, there is nothing on the Bose system. I am assuming that the Bose amp is hard wired to provide Bass for the speakers.

So I have changed out the Radio Cassette unit, and have changed the Bose Amp. Is there anything else besides the speakers ? Why would both go ? Is that normal for these speakers ? They must be bad, and they cant sound this bad off the showroom.

The other thing thats werid: These are AC Delco speakers in a Bose system. Is there supposed to be Bose speakers in there or is AC Delco rebadging them ?